Highlights of Wild Planet’s “Northern India Ultimate Wildlife Ecotour ” include:
· Leopard Safari—by Camelback and Jeep, Siana
· Tiger Safari—By Elephant-back and jeep, Kanha Nat’l Park
· Rhino Safari—by Elephant-back and Jeep, Kaziranga Nat’l Park
· Rare Wildlife Boat Safari—by Raft in Nameri National Park
· Sloth Bear Rescue Center—Conservation Project
· Bisnoi Hindus—Cultural exchange with a sect of Hindus that revere wildlife
· Taj Mahal, Agra—World Heritage Site and architectural jewel
· Jodhpur–The Blue City, Mehrangarh Fort and Royal Palaces
· Jaipur–The Pink City, City Palace and Palace of Winds
· Local Cooking and Folk Music
· Villages untouched by western influence
· Four and Five-Star hotels, Top Safari Lodges and Classic Safari Tented Camps
· And much more
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Brown is the new black and Kangaroo Island is the new Galapagos. Trek Travel is offering a new, luxury Australian trip starting with a New Year’s Eve celebration in Sydney, Australia overlooking the famous Harbour Bridge at midnight, followed by a unique ride through South Australia culminating on Kangaroo Island – an untouched island with expansive native bushland, diverse wildlife and pristine beaches. The trip, which is open to anyone who is moderately fit, consists of nine days of wine tasting, culture, great food, nature, urban exploration and of course cycling.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
BedandBreakfast.com’s 2008 Roundup of Bootiful and Spirited B&Bs
Hysterical or historical, ghostly spirits enjoy America’s B&Bs, just like living guests. For the past seven years, BedandBreakfast.com, the largest online B&B directory and reservation network worldwide , has compiled the most comprehensive list of inns where ghost seekers will enjoy potentially close encounters with the other world, bed-and-breakfast style. For a complete list of Halloween packages and over 100 great places to sleep with a ghost, visit www.BedandBreakfast.com and click Halloween Happenings or Haunted B&Bs. From west to east, here is a sampling of B&B ghost stories:
Thornewood Castle, Lakewood, WA: This B&B served as a set for Stephen King’s mini-series Rose Red in 2002. In real life, guests have reported their share of chills and plenty of orbs have been recorded on guest photos taken here.
Texas White House, Fort Worth, TX: The ghost here is believed to be the husband of the only family who ever lived in the house. He died here and now haunts his old bedroom (now the Lone Star Room). Interestingly, the ghost sightings occur only when a single woman is staying in the room.
Texas White House, Fort Worth, TX: The ghost here is believed to be the husband of the only family who ever lived in the house. He died here and now haunts his old bedroom (now the Lone Star Room). Interestingly, the ghost sightings occur only when a single woman is staying in the room.
Grand Avenue B&B, Carthage, MO: While the “no smoking” rule is in effect for all guests, the former owner is exempt. A ghostly whiff of his trademark cigar smoke wafts through the rooms when he visits here.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Fill your senses with the dazzling colors, pungent smells, and quiet sounds of nature as you hike or bike the dozens of state and county parks in Door County, Wisconsin.
- Did you know? It was the French who named the treacherous waters separating Washington Island from the mainland, “Portes des Morts” or Door of Death. This is where Door County gets its name (www.doorcounty.com).
Or treat yourself to a relaxing, scenic cruise by car, boat, or horse-drawn wagon. You can even get an eagle-eyed view of the changing colors with a scenic airplane ride. Fall colors begin to turn in late September and usually peak by mid-October. The fall color hotline at the Door County Visitor Bureau provides updates. Call (920) 743-4456, ext. 3, then 6.
For your taste buds, there are roadside stands and farmers’ markets at every turn, offering crisp apples from local orchards, aromatic hot cider, and the bounty of the local harvest. And what would harvest season be without festivals? Door County has some of the best in the Midwest with pumpkin decorations, parades, collector cars, arts and crafts, and fireworks.
Reluctant to let the glow of summer fun fade? Fall offers one more chance to enjoy some of your favorite summer activities such as golfing, antique hunting, sailing, horseback riding, gallery browsing, fishing, and sightseeing.
Whether you’re staying in an elegant inn, cozy B&B, modern resort, cabin, motel or campsite, fall will put you in touch with the peninsula’s natural beauty at its best.
Check out these insider suggestions sure to get you going…
Enjoy an authentic Fish Boil dinner - a dining experience found only in Door County. A traditional Door County fish boil features fresh Lake Michigan whitefish caught by local fishermen and cooked outside over an open fire, just as it was 100 years ago by the Scandinavian settlers of the Peninsula.
- Did you know? The fish boil tradition began as an economical way to feed large, hungry groups of lumberjacks and fishermen. Churches picked up the tradition to raise money, and people from all over would come to taste the local fish, potatoes and Door County cherry pie. Eventually area restaurants followed and the Door County Fish Boil became a “not to be missed” event for every visitor.
Board the Door County Trolley for a narrated scenic tour to see breathtaking vistas from Door County’s scenic bluffs overlooking the islands, learning local legend and lore along the way (www.doorcountytrolley.com).
- Did you know? Door County Trolley also offers a lighthouse tour, scenic tour, Jewel of the Door tour, progressive dinner outings and more.
- Did you know? Founded in 1985, Orchard Country Winery is a small family owned winery housed in a historic dairy barn, built in the early 1900s.
Explore Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor with its gleaming white tower and keeper’s home of cream city brick. This 1869 lighthouse has withstood countless storms, witnessed great maritime dramas and is well-known as one of the Great Lakes’ most photographed lighthouses (www.dcmm.org/canaisland).
- Did you know? Door County has the second largest concentration of lighthouses for any county in the US.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
NEW LODGING & LEARNING PROGRAM “OLD FAITHFUL WINTER EXPEDITION”
The Yellowstone Association Institute and park concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts have added the new “Old Faithful Winter Expedition” to their line-up of popular Lodging & Learning programs this year.
Lodging & Learning programs offer the expertise of Yellowstone Association Institute naturalists/guide during the day and the comfort of park lodges at night. Each program includes accommodations, some meals and Xanterra’s “Snow Card” good for 10 percent off meals, in-park transportation, tours, ski shop services and select retail items.
“We consistently hear from participants that the instructors’ knowledge and enthusiasm about the park create experiences that could not be achieved on a self-guided tour,” said Jeff Brown, director of education for the Yellowstone Association. “The interior of Yellowstone in winter offers so much, especially for groups seeking an in-depth view.”
The Old Faithful Winter Expedition features two nights each at the only Yellowstone lodging open during the winter – the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Under the guidance of an Institute instructor, stops throughout the park will include the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone Lake and various geyser basins. Available Saturday through Tuesday beginning Dec. 27, 2008 and Jan. 10, Jan. 24, Feb. 7 and Feb. 21, 2009, this program features four nights of lodging, breakfasts, lunches, welcome gift, in-park transportation, snowshoes, one-hour hot tub usage, unlimited ice skating and optional evening programs. Rates start at $929 per person, plus tax, based on double occupancy and $1,163 for single occupancy.
The activity level of this program is easy. The class is limited to 12 persons.
This winter the two organizations will also offer Lodging & Learning programs with the titles “Winter Rendezvous,” “Family Winter Holiday,” “Winter Wildlife Expedition,” “Yellowstone on Skis,” “Winter Wolf Discovery” and “Winter in Wonderland.”
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Smithsonian.com and Travelocity Offer “Trip of a Lifetime” to Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea
Smithsonian.com, with Travelocity, offers the “Trip of a Lifetime: Voyage to Melanesia” sweepstakes for a chance to experience the history, culture and rugged beauty of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Contestants that enter between August 15 and October 31 will be entered into a random drawing for this 16-night adventure, valued at more than $25,000. Prize sponsor Abercrombie and Kent will present winners with 14 days aboard their “Clipper Odyssey” to trace the route of epic battles that helped secure democracy for the allied forces in World War II.
“Smithsonian magazine brings the world’s most diverse cultures from around the globe to our readers every month,” said Kerry Bianchi, Group Publisher, Smithsonian Media. “But there is no better way to understand the essence of a locale than by experiencing it on the ground, and the Voyage to Melanesia sweepstakes gives entrants a chance to do just that.”
To enter, visit http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/ads/experiences-sweepstakes/melanesia/sweeps.html, follow the links and complete the online entry form. Contestants are limited to one entry per day
Source: The Rosen Group
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".